Name
Frank Gurney
1 Feb 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19182
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE
I. D. 26.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Stephens Parish Memorial Tablet, Park Street, St Stephens Parish Memorial Obelisk, Park Street, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Francis William was born on 1 Feb 1889 (baptised 17 Apr 1889, Holy Trinity, Frogmore ) in Park Lane, Frogmore, Park Street to William Gurney, a labourer, and Ellen (nee Cooper).
On the 1891 Census parents, Alice (born 1878), Arthur (born 1880), Frank, Bertie (Herbert born 1887) and Beatrice (born 1890) were living at Park Lane, Park Street.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Arthur (a Hay Binder), Frank, and Beatrice were living at Branch Road, Frogmore. Frank’s mother Ellen died in 1910.
On the 1911 Census Frank (now a general carter) was living with his father, Arthur (a labourer), Herbert (plate layer railway), Beatrice Eaton (nee Gurney, Dorothy (a Laundry maid born 1897). Frank’s father George died in 1916.
Wartime Service
Frank volunteered in October 1914 as Private 19182 in the Bedfordshire Regiment. After his training he was posted to 7th (Service) Battalion and went with this Battalion (31 Officer and 820 other Ranks) to France on 26 Jul 1915 landing at Boulogne.
The 7th Battalion were detailed as an attacking formation for the Initial assault on 1 Jul 1916, the Battle of Albert the initial part of the overall Battle of the Somme. The Attack took place under heavy machine gun fire but the objective of the German front line trench were taken at the high cost of casualties. Frank was wounded in this action of 1 Jul 1916 and died of his wounds at 36 Casualty Clearing Station on 5 Jul 1916.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £7 (no arrears) was paid to his brother Arthur
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes
